The Buffalo Bills were in as close to a must-win situation as a NFL playoff hopeful team can be in Week 11 on Sunday. They did not win, dropping a 30-22 decision on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Once again, this incredibly frustrating Bills team had ample opportunities to change their fortunes, only to miss opportunities and allow an opponent to capitalize.
Rex Ryan will be the big story in this one; he legitimately made wrong calls on four different challenges in this game, including one that would have nullified a big Jeremy Maclin reception that set up Kansas City's first touchdown, and another late in the fourth quarter that not only negated a Bills first down, but helped to set up their inevitable final-drive failure.
Then there's the fact that Sammy Watkins was targeted one time in the second half - it was an incomplete pass - after catching six passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, helping the Bills to take an early 16-7 lead.
But then there's also the fact that an injury-depleted Bills defense allowed Kansas City to score 30 of the final 36 points scored in the game, giving up six scoring drives in seven tries (the seventh being a barely-missed, 54-yard field goal just before halftime) after the first quarter. Buffalo's defense went into the game without Mario Williams and Kyle Williams on the field, and they eventually lost Nigel Bradham and Alex Carrington to injury, as well.
So despite a strong effort from the offense, particularly in the first half, the Bills still managed to bumble their way to a loss, and this one just happens to deal a devastating blow to their playoff chances. They are now 5-6, and face another must-win situation next week at home against the 6-5 Houston Texans.
Commiserate below.